PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION
Minister for Social and Affordable Housing Roderick Galdes addressed a conference on the future of social and affordable housing in our country. This conference was organised by the Housing Authority with the aim of bringing together the social partners in the sector and providing a platform for discussing what has been done in this sector, what is being done, as well as the way forward.
Minister Galdes outlined initiatives that form an integral part of the Vision Malta 2050, which is the national plan for sustainable growth in our country. The Minister highlighted the importance of the Vision Malta 2050 as an ambitious and comprehensive strategy that has a key principle, protecting the quality of life of the Maltese people. Within this framework, the social and affordable housing sector is one of the pillars of our society, supported by clear targets and concrete measures aimed at ensuring accessible housing for all.
One of the key goals is to increase the number of social housing projects, ensuring better access to affordable housing. During 2024, 514 new units were allocated in various localities such as Msida, Siġġiewi, Bormla, Qrendi, Żebbuġ, Luqa and Kirkop. Work is currently ongoing on other projects in Siġġiewi, Qrendi, Mellieħa, Bormla, as well as Ħal Farruġ, the largest social housing project in Malta, which includes around 267 apartments and 300 parking spaces, supported by an investment of approximately €40 million.
The Minister added that, through these initiatives, the Government aims to reduce the social housing waiting list by between 15% and 20% by 2035. This is being achieved through a forward-looking housing policy that addresses the needs of both current and future Maltese and Gozitan populations. Between 2018 and 2024, the national waiting list was nearly halved, driven by sustained policy action and substantial investment in the sector.
Minister Galdes stated that an investment of more than €52 million, between 2017 and 2023, allowed to help 1,391 families to become homeowners. One family every two days became a homeowner, through the housing schemes including Deposit Guarantee, Equity Sharing, Social Loan, New Hope and Sir Sid Darek.
The Minister explained that in 2024, through an investment of around €18 million more than 5,700 families benefited from the rent subsidy, as well as from the rent subsidy for pre-1995 rents. The Minister also highlighted the progress made on the rental market, as by the end of 2024 more than 66,000 rental contracts had been registered under the new 2020 law.
“Platforms like this conference are important so that together we can discuss the sector and continue to devise a proactive policy that continues to make a difference to the lives of Maltese and Gozitan families”, concluded Minister Galdes.
The Chief Executive of the Housing Authority, Matthew Zerafa, thanked all those present and reiterated that the future of housing in Malta can be shaped through ongoing dialogue and collaboration among all partners in the sector.
The conference was also addressed by Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe, who gave a comparative overview of social and affordable housing in several European countries.
During the conference, speakers from across the public and private sectors, as well as financial institutions and academia, engaged in a dynamic discussion on the key challenges and opportunities facing Malta’s housing sector.
